Ram Gopal Varma to resurrect Vivek Oberoi's career

He launched Vivek Oberoi seven years back and filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma
has once again come to actor's rescue as he says that his upcoming
directorial venture Rakta Charitra will resurrect Vivek's career.

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PTI

New Delhi

May 25, 2010

UPDATED: May 25, 2010 16:48 IST

He launched Vivek Oberoi seven years back and filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has once again come to actor's rescue as he says that his upcoming directorial venture Rakta Charitra will resurrect Vivek's career.

After launching him in superhit Company in 2002, Varma went ahead and made Road and Dum with the actor, who was being touted as the next big thing in Bollywood.

Then came Yashraj's Saathiya which marked the biggest hit of Vivek's career but little did the actor know that its about relationships and right attitude in Bollywood.

Soon after his infamous Salman Khan-bashing press conference, came Vivek's downfall with no leading filmmaker wanting to work him.

The actor's high-headedness even put off his mentor, Varma, and the filmmaker vowed not to work with him again.

However, after Vivek's constant effort to rebuild their relationship, the two have buried their hatchet and this time Varma is launching the actor as Paritala Ravi in 'Rakta Charitra', a biopic on rebel-turned-politician in Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh.

"Vivek is a very fine actor. I have always had faith in his potential," Varma told PTI.

The director added that Vivek was the perfect choice for the role as no one else could have pulled off the character.

"I know that if given a powerful role, Vivek can do wonders and that is what he has done in Rakta Charitra. It is going to be the biggest film of his career," Varma added.

It was Vivek's intensity coupled with his vulnerability, which made him a perfect choice to play Paritala Ravi, according to Varma.

The director has finished shooting 80 per cent of the film which is being simultaneously shot in Hindi, Telegu and Tamil.

Another actor, who Varma says will be the surprise package in the film, is Shatrughan Sinha, who will be seen new moustache-less avatar playing a role inspired by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N T Rama Rao.

Varma, who "reinvented" Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan with films like Nishabd, Ram Gopal Verma Ki Aag and Sarkar says it is exciting for him to cast senior actors and give them roles which challenge their existing image.

"I have always admired Shatrughan Sinha and I was keen to do something drastically different with him which you will see in Rakta Charitra. His character plays a major part in the rise of Ravi," Varma said.

The filmmaker is also bringing South Indian star Suriya to Bollywood. Since it's actor's first Hindi film, Suriya is leaving no stone unturned to vow the Bollywood audience.

Suriya, whose lead role in Ghajini was emulated by Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan in its Hindi remake, seems to have convincingly impressed director. With muscular body and a highly emoting face, Suriya is any director's dream, Varma says.

"Suriya is the one to watch out for," said Varma.

Rakta Charitra is about 5 hours long and will be divided into two parts and released within three months gap.

The first part is expected to hit the screens in August.

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